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Cool looks at Dog Days of Summer

Scenes from Community Animal Rescue and Adoption's annual Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday at Pelahatchie Shore Park in Rankin County.

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Skylar, an 8-year-old standard poodle, sits patiently as her owner, Kelcey Armstrong of K-9 Pro Cuts in Flowood, uses an airbrush to give her a festive hairdo during Community Animal Rescue and Adoption's Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday at Pelahatchie Shore Park in Rankin County.(Photo: Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger)Buy Photo

The hottest weekend of the summer didn't keep Mississippians and their four-legged friends from Pelahatchie Shore Park for Community Animal Rescue & Adoption's seventh annual Dog Days of Summer event.

Brenda Collette of Ridgeland enjoyed the festivities on the shore of the Ross Barnett Reservoir in Rankin County with her 7-year-old Chihuahua, Delta, whom she adopted from CARA a year ago.

"I lov

e the fact that my little girl gets to socialize, and it's a great opportunity to see little dogs, big dogs. ... I love it all," Collette said. "I think about all the people and the good they do for this cause."

A dog bounds through an obstacle during an agility demonstration at Community Animal Rescue and Adoption's annual Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday at Pelahatchie Shore Park in Rankin County. Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger

Skylar, an 8 year-old standard poodle, sits patiently as her owner, Kelcey Armstrong of K-9 Pro Cuts in Flowood, uses an airbrush give her a festive hairdo during Community Animal Rescue and Adoption's Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday at Pelahatchie Shore Park in Rankin County. Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger

A dog weaves thorugh a series of poles during an agility demonstration at Community Animal Rescue and Adoption's annual Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday at Pelahatchie Shore Park in Rankin County. Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger

A dog weaves thorugh a series of poles during an agility demonstration at Community Animal Rescue and Adoption's annual Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday at Pelahatchie Shore Park in Rankin County. Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger

Nala, a nine month-old Alaskan Malamute, cools off with a dip in one of several pools provided at Community Animal Rescue and Adoption's annual Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday at Pelahatchie Shore Park in Rankin County. Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger

The event's setting of tents, food and games resembled a family reunion as dogs socialized while their owners swapped stories and advice on pet care. Numerous breeds were represented, and local organizations and businesses provided info

rmation and canine goodies.

Attractions including Titus — the dock-diving dog — a petting zoo and people dressed as Transformers were new to the Jackson animal shelter's fundraiser. Event co-chairwoman Denise Cantrell said organizers hoped for about 2,000 people to attend, more than last year.

Cantrell said event proceeds support the shelter, which costs about $1,300 a day to operate.

"The producers from the 'Animal House' show are here, and they will come back and do updates and renovations to the shelter in the fall," Cantrell said. "It takes events like this and supporters to come out and help us raise money here or continue to support us through donations."

To keep people from overheating, CARA provided a cooling tent and cold towels, and vendors served plenty of iced tea and snow cones. All day long, dogs received grooming services, microchips and rabies shots. CARA also had 20 shelter dogs ready for adoption.

Ann Somers, a CARA board member and coordinator of Bree's Bark Park, helped register new members, saying the park now has nearly 100 members since opening last October.

"The big deck has been added, and we're starting to work with CARA dogs in the new Shelter Buddy program," Somers said. "This will help the shelter get dogs socialized so they are adoptable."

Community Animal Rescue and Adoption accepts food and monetary donations as well as volunteers. CARA and Animal Rescue Fund of Mississippi (ARF) have a new partnership, SNIP (Spay Neuter Initiative Partnership), to eliminate pet overpopulation in metro Jackson as a cause of death, neglect and abandonment. CARA is located at 960 N. Flag Chapel Road in Jackson. Contact CARA at (601) 922-7575 and www.carams.org.